{"id":301666,"date":"2026-06-09T19:42:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T19:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/301666\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T19:42:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T19:42:11","slug":"tampa-police-chief-lee-bercaw-is-leaving-the-force-and-heading-to-usf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/301666\/","title":{"rendered":"Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw is leaving the force and heading to USF"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chief Lee Bercaw<\/a> has been with the Tampa Police Department for 30 years, but he’s trading in the blue for green and gold. <\/p>\n

He’ll teach and coordinate the University of South Florida’s criminal justice graduate program<\/a>. Bercaw holds two degrees from USF, along with a doctorate from Saint Leo’s.<\/p>\n

At a Tuesday press conference announcing his retirement<\/a>, he expressed pride in the work his department has done to modernize policing and improve services.<\/p>\n

“The foundation is solid, and the future is exceptionally bright for the Tampa Police Department,” Bercaw said. “To our community: thank you for your trust, your partnership and your support.”<\/p>\n

ALSO READ: Tampa interim police chief Lee Bercaw gets the permanent job<\/a><\/p>\n

Bercaw added his department prioritized community outreach, working with Ybor City residents and business owners<\/a> to prevent crime.<\/p>\n

He also created the department’s Professional Standards Bureau<\/a> to handle officer misconduct reports and, in 2025, TPD hosted a youth basketball tournament to build trust between teens and cops. <\/p>\n

Violent crimes have significantly declined<\/a> during Bercaw’s tenure. In 2025, Tampa saw the number of homicides cut nearly in half.<\/p>\n

Mayor Jane Castor touted Bercaw’s focus on tech-savvy policing. The department is looking at artificial intelligence, drones, and license plate readers to enhance their operations. <\/p>\n

“Under his leadership, this department has become a national model for what modern, community-oriented policing looks like,” she said.<\/p>\n

Bercaw’s resignation is effective August 6. Castor named Assistant Chief Brett Owen as his temporary successor until Tampa’s next mayor makes their pick in 2027.<\/p>\n

Bercaw’s been with the Tampa Police Department since 1997, starting as a reserve officer while continuing his education at USF and Saint Leo’s. <\/p>\n

ALSO READ: Tampa police revise their pursuit policy after the fatal Ybor crash<\/a><\/p>\n

His predecessor, Mary O’Connor, resigned<\/a> in late 2022 after she flashed her badge during a traffic stop while riding in an unregistered golf cart. <\/p>\n

Bercaw’s time as chief of police has been markedly less controversial, but there have been some incidents during his tenure.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, a fatal crash outside Bradley’s on Seventh Avenue in Ybor City prompted TPD to revisit its policies<\/a>. They hadn’t asked the Florida Highway Patrol to pursue a suspect who later slammed into a crowd, killing four people. <\/a><\/p>\n

In recent days, a video<\/a> of a Ybor City arrest went viral on social media. The clip shows a TPD officer wrapping his arm around a young man’s neck and slamming him to the ground.<\/p>\n

“What I’ve seen raises concern,” Bercaw told WSTP<\/a> after the incident. “We have to do a deep-dive investigation into that.”<\/p>\n